Lin (John Lindthwaite) Bend hailed from the town of Poplar Point, Manitoba and rose to the National Hockey League's New York Rangers after leading the Memorial Cup Champion Portage Terriers in scoring during the 1941-42 season. Bend, a centre born on the 20th of December, 1922, was able to score three goals and added an assist in eight games with the Rangers before he was sent back to Manitoba.
His career was interrupted by the fulfilment of his military obligations in 1943, but he returned to Senior hockey after his military service and joined the United States Hockey League's St. Paul Saints in 1945-46.
With the exception of one season in the American Hockey League with the New Haven Ramblers, Bend spent his final six seasons in the USHL, only once registering fewer then 18 goals in a season.
